We have reached one of the biggest moments of the calendar year.
With the preseason complete, all NFL teams must reduce their rosters to 53 players before the 2024 regular season.
Here’s what you need to know about the NFL’s 53-man roster deadline.
When does the duty roster end?
All teams must initially reduce their rosters to 53 players by Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. PT.
How many players can a team keep?
Teams must have 53 players on their active roster. Each team also has a practice squad consisting of more than a dozen players.
Teams can have a maximum of 16 players on their practice squad, but there is one exception. If a team has a player from the International Pathway Program on its roster – which is the case with the Chargers with defensive lineman CJ Okoye – they have one at-large spot and can keep 17 players.
When will the training squad be announced?
Practice squads must be in the league by 1 p.m. PT Wednesday, one day after the initial 53-man rosters are announced.
What happens when a player is placed on the injured list?
Unfortunately, injuries are a part of life in the NFL, but a recent rule change could change the way rosters look.
A new rule for this year allows teams to place up to two players on the injured list on Tuesday. Those players can return to the team after sitting out at least four games.
Until now, teams have had to keep players in their squad despite cuts.
Can my team add a player released by another team?
Yes. A big part of roster cut day is teams watching other teams’ moves.
Players who play less than four years in the league are subject to waivers, meaning teams have the option to keep their existing contracts. The Chargers currently rank fifth in the waiver rankings based on their 2023 record.
The Chargers may claim any player waived by another team before noon Wednesday. On noon Wednesday, waivers will be awarded to their new teams unless the player was claimed by a team above them in the waivers order.
